The latest public statements coming out of Moscow are very worrying and must be forthrightly condemned. Putin is talking of a referendum in the Russian held parts of Donetsk and Luhansk, on whether the populace in their majority want to be a part of Russia. The voting is likely to be held between September 23 to 27. The reason behind this shift in strategy is that, given the strong and unexpected resistance of the Ukrainian people, Putin is no longer confident that he can swallow the whole of Ukraine.


